Electricity-gage



(No Model.)

J. 86 H. M. GOODMAN.

I ELEGTRIGITY GAGE. No. 308,487. Patented Nov. 25, 188

v WITNESSES \INVENTCRS v 101111 Gooannan/ HJ LL Gena/mam M A ORNEYS Ian.D C.

U ITED STATES PATENT Orrica.

JOHN GOODMAN AND HENRY M. GOODMAN, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ELECTRICITY-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,487, dated November25, 1884.

Application filed December 4, 1883.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, JOHN GOODMAN and HENRY M. GOODMAN, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson andState of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectricity-Gages; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters'orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention has relation to means for estimating the amount ofelectric energy that traverses a given circuit; and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of devices, as hereinafter set forth,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing is made somewhat diagrammatic in order todisplay the different parts more clearly and render the construction ofthe instrument and the principle of its action plain to theunderstanding.

In the drawing, the letters X, Y, and Z indicate the frame of theinstrument.

A represents a stationary electro-magnet fixed to the base X, and B amovable electromagnet attached to the beam 0, which is pendent, beingpivoted at the point L, so that it is capable of vibratory motion. Thecores of the two electromagnets Aand B approximate, and their opposingextremities are of the same polarity, so that when a current is passedthrough the circuit they repel each other.

G indicates a spring-arm upon one of these electro-magncts, saidspring-arm being connected with the wire of the electro-magnet. To thewire of the other electro-magnet is attached an arm, H, which isdesigned to make contact with the spring-arm G.

R and S indicate resistance-coils.

W is a switch, whereby the coil R may be thrown in or out of circuit.

' K is a projection upon the upper portion of the vibratory beam 0,designed to make contact with the spring 0 at certain times.

M is a catch connected to the vibratory beam 0 and adapted to work theratchet-wheel (No model.)

E. \Vhen the current of electricity enters at the binding-post P, itascends in the course indicated by the line a b,which may represent awire or other conductor, to some part of the vibratory beam 0, near thefulcrum thereof. It there descends along 0 to its lower part, where itis diverted to the wire of the magnet B, which terminates in the uprightH. The magnet 13 being at rest and H in contact with G, the currentcontinues on through the wire of the magnet A and passes out at thebinding-post T. At the moment the current passes the electro-magnets Aand B repel each other, and the swinging or pendent magnet B recedes,breaking the contact between the arms G and H, and then the pendentmagnet B returns by its force of gravity, to be again repelled. Theforce of the repulsion and the length of the are described by the magnetB will be with certain restrictions proportionate to the strength of thecurrent.

It is not necessary for the perfection of the instrument that G shall bea spring, as a rigid arm will answer very well. Nor is it essential thatthe circuit be made and broken through arms or projections, as in somecases it may be even advantageousto conduct the current through themagnets, allowing the extremities of the magnets to constitute thecontact-surfaces. The action, however, which has been described wouldresult in an interrupted current, which in some cases might beobjectionable, and in order to obviate it a second contact-maker,represented at K O, has been devised.

K represents a projection or knot on the beam 0, and O is a spring soarranged as to come in contact with said projection or knot at themoment that the arms H and G of the electro-magnets are separated, thuscontinuing the current through wires or other conductors in thedirection indicated at f g to the binding-post T. A variable currentwill, however, still result, as at one moment the resistance in thehelices of the electro-Inagnets A and B will be encountered and at thenext only the resistance of the line f g. To obviate this the coil S,which involves a resistance equal to that in circuit through the magnetsA and B, is interposed between the spring 0 and the binding-post T. Thet0- and-fro movement of the beam 0 is propa- ICO - gated by means of aratchet-wheel, as shown,

or other common mechanical device to appropriate clock-work actuating aregister.

In the drawing, R represents a coil of any desired resistance, saidresistance serving to conduct a portion of the current around theinstrument.

Although the current may be made and broken between the extremities ofthe magnets A and B, it has been found that the noise made by thestriking together of the magnets was disagreeable, and that the ends ofthe magnets were battered, and the whole mechanism injured by theconcussions. These eb- 15 jections have, however, been surmounted, and

the working of all the parts of the apparatus has been rendered moreuniform by immersing it in a vesse1,\V, containing some nonconductingliquid-such as oil or chloroform as shown.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,with an automatic electric motor adapted to operate arecordinginstrument, of the stationary and pendent magnets, the circuitmaking and breaking devices, and a vessel containing a non-conductingliquid in which the magnets are operated, substantially as specified.

2. An electric meter having a suspended o vibratory electro magnetactuated on one hand by the force of gravity and on the other hand bythe repellent force of a second electro-magnet in the same circuit, thecurrent making and breaking devices, and recording 35 mechanism,substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a pendent vibratory electromagnet, B, ofmechanical devices adapted to operate clock-work to register thevibrations of the pendent electro-magnet, and 0 the arms G and H, formaking and breaking the electric circuit, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN GOODMAN. HENRY M. GOODMAN.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY N. BRILEY, Gno. O. STAUBER.

